Beowulf The epic poem Beowulf consists of two distinct parts held together by the person of the hero. These two parts balance each other, demonstrating a heroic life in youth and old age. Briefly the poem begins with Hrothgar, King of the Danes, who is terrorized by Grendel, a monster who comes night after night for twelve years to carry off and devour the vassals of Herot. Beowulf of Geats hears of the monster and resolves to defeat the monster. When Grendel comes a Beowulf defeats the monster in hand to hand combat tearing off an arm. The next night Grendel's mother comes to avenge his death killing one of Hrothgar's counselors. Beowulf follows her to the sea bottom and eventually slays the woman monster. Beowulf leaves Herot a hero and returns to Geats and becomes king of his own people. After fifty years under his rule Geats is put upon by a fire-spewing dragon and Beowulf resolves to kill him. In the battle that follows both Beowulf and the dragon are slain. The poem...
Rebecca Tierny-Hynes notes the Anglo-Saxon epic, particularly the Germanic heroic poetry, has been interpreted as modeling the role of the warrior-king for contemporary rulers. The poetry is meant to teach the continuity and transmission of heroic values so that those in authority might see their obligations and responsibilities, gain political wisdom, and learned useful lessons about current moral sanctions governing behavior in general, and heroic conduct in particular. These values encompass strength, courage, and loyalty in warriors, hospitality, generosity, and political skill in kings, ceremoniousness in women, and good reputation in all people. This code is vital to warrior societies as a means of understanding their relationships to the world and the menaces lurking beyond their boundaries. This heroic…
When Grendel is slain, a triumphant and bloody ritual is made of his body that is anything but respectful in tone. "It was a task for four to hoist Grendel's head on a spear and bear it under strain to the bright hall." (113) Beowulf tells the tale of Grendel's slaying to the court both as a tale of good vs. evil, and as a spectacle of his military
Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons Part 1: Introduction Although the epic Old English poem Beowulf has all the characteristics of myth and legend that pertain to fiction, as a historical document it is useful in teaching about the past—the values and culture of the medieval Anglo-Saxon society and how Christian culture intersected with the pagan world at a time when Christian conversion was spreading. Not only does Beowulf refer to real kings of
Thryth is however easily rehabilitated by marriage, as she is to some degree functional within her society. Grendel's mother is not, and the only remedy for her type of complete evil is death. As her son, she is an outcast, and deserving of a death as such. Her evil has no place in a society that sees itself as predominantly good. In Oedipus, the fulfillment of fate is the ultimate
Chinese calligraphy & Western calligraphy Weather in the East or in the West, calligraphy, the art of writing, is first and foremost an art form, by definition. This art is dedicated to practical purposes, but as any craft, it has taken its own individuality as an expression of the craftsman's abilities, his imagination, creative power and mastering of the specific techniques. Calligraphy and literature are highly dependent on each other in
English Literature The medieval period in English history spans across some 800 years. The Anglo-Saxon period consisted of literature that was retained in memory. The major influence of the literature up until the Norman Conquest was mainly of the religious kind. "Distinguished, highly literate churchmen (Abrams 4) the Ecclesiastical History of England remains our "most important source of knowledge about the Anglo-Saxon period" (4). The Anglo-Saxons were primarily known for their
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